Youth Impact Update from Hiwotu
Emama Tsige: 20 years of dedicated service
She walked a kilometer in the dark each morning, leaving her house at 5:30 a.m., in order to catch a bus on one of the most crowded roads in Addis Ababa, where the bus lines could mean hours of waiting. She rode the bus 25 kilometers to Hope House Center, the street boys’ mentoring center of Youth Impact, and was in her kitchen at Hope House Center by 6:30 in the morning. Then, she prepared breakfast and lunch for the boys and left the center after 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon to wait for her bus home again. Once a week, she spent the night with the boys at the center. This is the story of Mother Tsige (we called her Emama, meaning Dear Mother).
Emama joined Youth Impact 18 years ago as a cook. At that time, she was a struggling widow who was raising her infant grandchild whose mother was unable to care for her due to a health problem. To make matters infinitely worse, Emama didn’t know Christ. Seeing her situation, Ermias and his ministry partners at Youth Impact gave her the chance to work for them. They told her she could bring the baby with her, and they would look after the child while she was working. For Emama, the opportunity was a miracle, and she eagerly accepted their offer. Working at the ministry gave her the chance to witness a kind of life that she had never seen before. Emama became witness to the life that Ermias and the Youth Impact staff were living and the love they were sharing with all those with whom they came in contact. Ermias and the others took care of her grandchild while she was working. As a result, Emama decided to follow Christ and started living the life she saw modeled at Youth Impact.
Emama Tsige was a beloved mother to hundreds of boys and children who passed through the different mentorship programs within the ministry, especially the street boys mentoring program at Hope House. Emama served these children with selfless and sacrificial love for 18 years as the mother of the house, serving them nourishing meals, but even more, nourishing them with motherly love and kindness. She was a woman of faith and prayer, as well as a wise and humble counselor for all who worked in the ministry. Emama demonstrated how to love and serve God, and how to live for the forgotten ones. She struggled with cancer for three years and finally passed away on August 16, 2019. Her granddaughter has grown into a confident young woman, preparing for her college education. She loves Jesus and wants to study architecture.
Hope House Center: The thirteenth class is underway
It has now been three months since our new boys joined the mentorship program at Hope House. These wonderful young boys came to Addis Ababa from different parts of the country, looking for better opportunities than they had in their homelands. They range in age from 16 to 21 years, and each one lived on the streets for varying lengths of time before joining our program. While they were on the streets, they suffered many different challenges and traumatic experiences, and they were without hope.
Now, these boys have the opportunity to learn, and all of them are using this opportunity effectively. As a result, they have started demonstrating visible and tangible behavioral, physical, and emotional changes. They also have started understanding what life should look like. The boys have started reading the Bible, praying daily, and going to church on Sundays. One of our boys is Muslim, but he is interested in learning the Bible and going to church.
Finding employment remains a major challenge for our boys as they leave the center, and we always try to help them find work. Whenever a job opportunity arises, we select the boys who are most deserving of a chance, and who will most likely use the chance effectively. Five of the new boys have started on-the-job skills training at a local construction finishing company. The owners and operators of the business are Christians, sharing our same values. We selected the boys who could be the best role models for our mentees, showing them how they should behave and work. We have scheduled special character training classes and Bible study programs for these boys, so that they can catch up on the lessons being delivered to the other boys while they are working. Based on the performance of these five boys, the owners of the business have promised to hire additional boys from our program!
Tariku is one of our mentees who is working in the construction finishing company. He is the oldest boy in the center at 21 years of age. Tariku came from Amobo, about 25 kilometers away from Addis Ababa, and he lived on the streets for three years before he joined our center. He is thrilled to be working and striving to build his future. Before he started working in the construction finishing work, Tariku was active and eager to learn from every possible opportunity. He loves reading the Bible and praying, and he is very optimistic about his future.
Impact Library Center and Shalom Center: Special Summer Program
At the Impact Library Center and Shalom Center, we hold a special summer program each year for children during their vacation from school. The program is always a huge success, and this summer was no exception! We had 200 children attend, and 15 volunteers to help. During the two-month period, children received special skills training in computer, art, and communication skills, while also participating in various activities just for fun. For children with limited access to appropriate learning and recreational facilities, these structured opportunities are most welcome during their summer vacation. Closing ceremonies were organized in both centers and were attended by the children’s families, as well as government representatives.
Shalom Center offers holistic support to children from families with economic problems. Until June of 2019, we had a total of 30 children in the center, four of whom have already enrolled in public universities. In June, we received 30 new children in need through the local government, which brings the total number of mentees at Shalom Center to 60. At least 50 children visit the center daily and receive all of our regular services. However, there are many others outside who would benefit from our services as well.
Three of our children from Impact Library have completed their college education, graduating in different fields of study. Kassahun and Gashaw graduated from the Universal Business College with B.A degrees in Accounting, and Gezahegn graduated from Wollo University with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. These young men have been attending school for the past four years while continuing to volunteer at the center. God has surely brought fruit out of their efforts. We celebrated their graduation with a special ceremony attended by their families and other invited guests. The boys expressed thanks to God, to the mentors at the center, and to their families and friends who supported them in their education.
In August of 2019, we welcomed a family of visitors from the United States of Ethiopian origin, which runs a charity initiative called Extend. They come to Ethiopia every year and engage in fund-raising activities to make donations for charity organizations, like Youth Impact. This year, they learned about our program and became interested in being involved in the work we do. These visitors bought uniforms and shoes for 100 of our children in both the Impact Library and Shalom Center.
Hiwot is a 13-year-old mentee at Impact Library. She is in the eighth grade, attending a government school named Ewuket Minich. Eighth graders take a national exam before entering their secondary education, and Hiwot scored the highest in her school (98.3 points). On the basis of her score, one of the finest private boarding-schools in Addis Ababa, the Nazareth School, has offered her a scholarship to enroll for the coming academic year. We are all delighted and grateful for this wonderful opportunity for Hiwot!
Update from Abraham Fiseha
Abraham Fiseha is back in Ethiopia after an extended time in Canada visiting his sons. He and Salem are anticipating with joy the birth of their first grandchild in March!
News from Ethiopian Impact
Ethiopia Vision Trip
The Board of Directors of Ethiopian Impact are planning an on-site board meeting in mid-February, 2020, and a vision trip to coincide with the meeting. If you are interested in joining us on the trip, please contact us.
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